Captain’s log…day…one I guess. Time standards based on my home planet’s rotation don’t really mean much when my home planet is a galaxy away. I’m not entirely certain what happened. It was a routine shuttle trip back to my ship when it felt like my shuttle hit something and hit it hard. I am thankful for my exosuit as the planet I woke up on is not exactly friendly. Most likely it’s the only thing that protected me from the crash and the hostile atmosphere. After fending off a strange robotic sentinel which scanned and attacked me I set about repairing my ship. The first problem, however was a lack of spare parts. I was going to have to make do with raw materials. Fortunately for me, it looked like the resources I needed for basic repairs were close by.

It wasn’t easy but I managed to get basic thrusters online and synthesized enough fuel to move around on the planet. It was now time to explore and figure out where I was. After lifting my ship off, I located a new landing site further away which looked promising. I immediately noticed new fauna that had never been cataloged before. Pulling out my scanner I began the laborious process of cataloging each new species that I could find.

My suit alarm awoke me from my distractions. I had been too busy encountering new creatures that I had forgotten to monitor my suits life support system. With a quick tap on my wrist console, I was back to full energy. Looking up, I spotted three ships flying in formation. There was advanced life on this planet! I hurried back to my ship, eager to track down a base in order to resupply and hopefully find out where I was.

I began a low altitude flight in my ship when my scanners picked up something interesting on the ground. It appeared to be some sort of small structure or monument. I couldn’t get any more information through the interference so I landed to investigate closer.

Upon closer investigation, it appeared to be some sort of alien monument. I reached out and touched the sphere. Suddenly it began glowing and I recoiled quickly in fear. The orb began to levitate and spin as words, alien words, began to fill my consciousness. Amazed, I realized I had learned a few words of an alien language. I hoped that this would prove to be useful if I could even find these beings.

I could see from the sky that there was a large or at least close planet nearby, so I decided to take my ship into the system to see if there was more to find on the other celestial body.

I spotted another three ships off in the distance. It appears that this world was colonized, or at least visited by other beings. They have either chosen not to contact me or are unaware of my presence, though I find that unlikely. This planet had more plant life and coloration compared to the previous planet I was on and I appreciated the change in scenery. There wasn’t much else out here however, so I lifted off and flew to another planet.

This planet was not like the other two. In fact it appeared to be devoid of life completely. Disappointed, I scavenged for mineral resources to resupply my ship.

The lifeless rocks did however, create a great backdrop for the skies above, with the thin atmosphere allowing a deeper view into space if it were not for the perpetual orange haze of unknown origin.

As night fell upon the lifeless rocks, I stared up into the sky, seeing for the first time together the previous worlds I had only just recently stood upon. They looked so small and insignificant from this vantage point, but I knew how vast they truly were.

It was dark now, and the landscape, devoid of life, became an omnipresent shade of dark. It was depressing, but it allowed me to focus on finishing collecting aluminum in my ship’s stocks. If the ships that I had seen previously were any indication, there should be an orbital base somewhere and I was determined to find it.

It turns out I was right! There was a space station in orbit. The aliens were unlike any I had ever seen, but that brief encounter with the monument allowed me to pick up enough of their language in order to sell the aluminum to them for a nice sum of their credits. I installed some new technology into my suit and ship and began planning my next excursion. I hope to figure out how to fuel my hyper-drive so I can leave this system and find home.